20 MPs investigated: Kramer

POLICE Minister Bryan Kramer says about 20 MPs in Government and the Opposition are under investigation for alleged official corruption and misappropriation.
“There are some 20 complaints filed against MPs which the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate is looking into it,” Kramer said.
“Some of these files are not genuine with insufficient evidence to investigate.” Moresby North-East MP John Kaupa told Parliament that former police commissioner Gari Baki revealed in a press conference at police headquarters last month that 40 MPs were under investigation for official corruption and misappropriation.
However, Kramer said that following Baki’s statement and after the change of command with acting police commissioner Francis Tokura , he had asked for those 40 files.
“And I was advised by the fraud squad that there was no investigation into 40 MPs.”
Kramer also said that the vetting committee set up by Baki to assess criminal cases against MPs had been disbanded.
“Instead, high-profile suspects, especially in fraud and anti-corruption cases, will be reviewed by the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption director.
“The director will then advise the crimes assistant commissioner on the arrest that they will be making,” he said.
“The crimes assistant commissioner will advise the police commissioner.
“The police commissioner will then write a letter to the MP inviting him/her to come for an interview.
“This is the protocol procedures that are in place for investigation to be done on high-profile suspects.
“And that procedure has been in place for a long time. That procedure is also done in countries having similar constitutions to ours.”